January 14, 2021 

Portrait of Okwui Enwezor, photograph: Jeff Weiss. 

In honor of the late Nigerian curator Okwui Enwezor, Marian Goodman Gallery has launched a new initiative to create educational and research opportunities for Black, Indigenous, and People of Color (BIPOC) curators. The initiative is conceived by artist Steve McQueen, in partnership with Independent Curators International (ICI) and will support ICI’s professional development programs and research fellowships.

A curator, art critic, writer, poet, and educator, Enwezor (1963-2019) championed the agency of African art, challenged the long-established narrative of European and North American art, and embraced a global perspective which opened countless doors for new voices and critical inquiry in the curatorial field. In this spirit, the initiative will empower emerging curators and support their thinking and practice.

The goal, Goodman says in a statement, is to “address the imbalance and injustice that is embedded in the gallery and museum system.”

“I hope with all my heart that this initiative can help to bring about a shift,” the veteran gallerist says. “And, of course, I wish that Okwui were still here to guide us.”

McQueen said, “Okwui was always thinking about the future, always thinking ahead in order to create a healthier environment for all, no matter what the challenges were or what he, as a pioneer, came up against. This initiative is very much in his spirit, championing innovators in a field that he reinvented.”

The first phase of the initiative will see ICI developing a curatorial intensive in Africa in which 12-14 participants are provided with the critical and logistical tools needed to develop and realize their ideas, and with access to continued learning, mentorship, and peer-support opportunities. Additionally, ICI will make available annually for the next three years two curatorial research fellowships for US-based BIPOC curators and for curators of African descent based anywhere in the world.  This will enable early-to-mid career professionals to advance their practice and develop new knowledge in contemporary art. ICI’s Fellowships encourage independent research study towards the development of a curatorial project, and provide mentorship specific to the fellow’s needs, financial support, and travel opportunities.